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| Newsletter 01/13/2025 |
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Conspiracy Watch diligently curates and produces comprehensive materials and resources for understanding conspiracy theories. If you want to help us bolster our efforts...
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Jean-Marie Le Pen: A Life of Holocaust Denial and Racist Conspiracy Mongering
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Seen, Heard, Read...
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Stay informed with our curated collection of noteworthy updates and insights from the world of conspiracy theories. Uncover the latest trends, explore intriguing perspectives, and broaden your understanding. Delve into our recommended content that keeps you in the know.
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CONSPIRACIES ABLAZE. The Los Angeles fires have taken a devastating toll, claiming at least 24 lives, destroying 12,000 properties, and displacing thousands of residents. While firefighters battle the flames, an entirely different blaze has erupted online—one of conspiracy theories and misinformation. From baseless accusations involving Directed Energy Weapons (DEWs) to bizarre claims about P. Diddy and high-speed rail projects, the internet has become a breeding ground for speculation. Prominent figures like X owner Elon Musk, conspiracist Republican Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene, and Infowars broadcaster Alex Jones have fueled these theories, amplifying unfounded claims to millions.
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The theory of a DEW attack is among the most persistent. It claims that global elites or the government used military-grade laser technology to set the fires intentionally. A widely shared post by The Patriot Voice alleged, “Our Government, working hand-in-glove with the WEF and Blackrock, is PURPOSELY setting fires using Military grade DEWs in these areas to initiate a MASSIVE LAND GRAB.” Advocates of this theory point to grainy videos showing unexplained lights in the sky, misinterpreting them as evidence of high-tech weapons. Experts, however, have debunked these claims, explaining that such videos often capture unrelated phenomena like electrical explosions. Fire scientists emphasize that natural causes, such as high winds and dry conditions, are responsible for the spread of wildfires, not futuristic weaponry. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has reactivated its online rumor control site, a tool last employed following hurricanes Helene and Milton in the fall, to combat a surge of false claims circulating about the agency. Similarly, the Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD) has taken an active role in addressing misinformation as it works tirelessly to combat the fires. "Clearing Up Online Misinformation," wrote LAFD Public Information Officer Erik Scott on X, where he debunked rumors, including the false assertion that the department is asking the general public to assist in fighting the wildfires.
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P. DIDDY AND BILLIONAIRE SCHEMES. One of the most bizarre theories to surface suggests that Sean "Diddy" Combs is somehow linked to starting the Los Angeles fires. This theory gained traction after Combs' arrest in September on charges of sex trafficking and racketeering. Some online theorists claim that the fires are part of an elaborate plot to erase evidence related to Combs' case, with a number of people asserting that the flames are an attempt to destroy "Diddy tunnels." However, this theory falls apart when considering that the fires have also impacted many non-celebrity homes, which undermines the idea that they were targeted for this purpose. Meanwhile Mel Gibson, the veteran Hollywood actor and enthusiastic conspiracy monger has spoken out about the possibility of arson. Gibson, whose own home was destroyed in the fires, suggested without any proof that "commissioned" individuals may be starting the fires for unknown reasons. He raised concerns about water reserves being manipulated and speculated that the fires may have been set deliberately.
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15-MINUTE CITIES AND HIGH-SPEED RAIL. Urban planning has also become a target for conspiracy theorists, with claims that the fires are part of a broader agenda to impose "15-minute cities." This concept, aimed at reducing urban sprawl and promoting sustainable living, has been falsely linked to a deliberate scheme to burn down residential areas. Similar accusations involve California’s proposed high-speed rail project, with theorists suggesting that the fires were started to clear land for its construction. Again, these theories lack credible evidence, as neither urban planning initiatives nor infrastructure projects have been connected to the wildfires.
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MARJORIE TAYLOR GREENE. The Republican Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene also waded into the conspiracy fray, suggesting that the government has the ability to control the weather and may have weaponized it to start the fires. Greene's claims, shared on X, were quickly fact-checked by Community Notes, which pointed out that weather modification technology remains in its infancy and has no capacity to cause such devastation. Experts stress that the factors behind wildfires are well-documented, ranging from drought conditions to human negligence, rather than shadowy government operations.
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ELON MUSK AND DONALD TRUMP. High-profile figures like X owner Musk and the President-elect have used the fires to promote their own narratives. Musk downplayed the role of climate change, tweeting that “DEI means people with DIE” and suggesting that diversity policies are partly to blame. Trump, on his Truth Social platform, accused California Democrats of mishandling water resources and prioritizing environmental protections over firefighting efforts. They claim without evidence that the state prioritized protecting a species of fish over providing water for firefighting efforts. However, Governor Gavin Newsom's office has provided evidence to refute such claims. Climate scientists have repeatedly demonstrated that rising temperatures and prolonged droughts exacerbate wildfire risks, while California officials have denied claims of water mismanagement.
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ALEX JONES. The Infamous conspiracy theorist Jones weighed in with a claim that the fires were part of a “globalist plot to deindustrialize the U.S. and trigger economic collapse.” Jones’ narratives often rely on framing global elites as orchestrators of catastrophic events, and this instance was no different. His posts were amplified by Elon Musk, who replied “True” to one of Jones’ incendiary claims. Such rhetoric diverts attention from real issues like fire prevention and climate mitigation, experts warn (Sources: CNN, January 13, 2025; First Post, January 13, 2025; CBS News, January 13, 2025; One India, January 13, 2025).
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FRANCESCA ALBANESE. The U.N. special rapporteur for Palestinian rights, faced fresh calls for her removal after she compared California wildfires and the Israel-Hamas conflict, claiming that “all injustices are interconnected” and that both were symptoms of a “system that values conquest over conservation.” Her comments on X, in response to an article in the conspiracy theorizing website Mondoweiss, were widely condemned. Hillel Neuer of UN Watch criticized Albanese for perpetuating modern incarnations of antisemitic tropes. “In blaming Israel for the Los Angeles fires, Albanese is echoing the Der Stürmer slogan ‘The Jews are our misfortune,’” Neuer wrote, calling for her expulsion. Albanese’s response to the article also drew scrutiny for ignoring evidence of Hamas’ destructive actions, such as using water pipes for rockets and exploiting humanitarian resources for military purposes. California’s wildfires, frequent in the region’s history, are tied to natural conditions and climate factors rather than international conflicts. Critics argue that Albanese’s remarks reflect a longstanding bias in her role. Calls for her firing have intensified, with organizations like the Anti-Defamation League and Campaign Against Antisemitism urging the U.N. to address her controversial stance. Albanese’s interventions followed widely denounced similar claims by Code Pink, which regularly accuses the Jewish state of “genocide”.
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Meanwhile an Iranian TV Show discussed the Los Angeles Fires, claiming “It’s Not Exactly Karma, But We Can’t Ignore the Fact That America Is Paying for the Bombs Dropped on Gaza”. And In a December column in the Qatari daily Al-Arab titled "Is This A Divine Warning?" journalist Najat Ali described the Los Angeles fires as "a divine warning to Washington" for its military aid to Israel. She referred to the disaster as a "divine response" to President-elect Donald Trump's recent statement that "there will be Hell to pay" if Hamas does not release Israeli hostages and as "divine punishment" for U.S. support of Israel. Ali questioned whether the U.S. would view the fires as a sign to reconsider its stance on Israel. Other Qatari journalists echoed these sentiments on social media. Some argued that the "hell" Trump threatened the Middle East with had now befallen the U.S., while one commentator criticized expressions of sympathy for the fire victims, expressing a wish for Allah to bring death upon all "infidels" (Sources: JNS, January 13, 2025; Memri, January 13, 2025).
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